Questions

W-STEG Ink

Energy harvesting is the process of accumulating waste energies from different systems that incorporates heat, sound, or mechanical movement. For example, the noise that we generate in our electronic devices, wherein implementing this concept to our systems will improve efficiency and therefore, its performance. Wearable Solar Thermoelectric Generator (W-STEG) is a device that applies the concept of energy harvesting by acting as a thermoelectric generator in wearable technologies. The main dilemma in wearable technology is that the temperature difference is only limited to 1 - 4 degrees Celsius. However, a new device overcame this obstacle by increasing the temperature difference to 20.9 degrees Celsius. Such feature is obtained by introducing a solar absorber on a polymide substrate. This solar absorber is made of five layers of titanium-magnesium fluoride and is designed to be optimal for sunlight absorption. In this study, Professor Choi with his colleagues created W-STEG with integrated flexible BiTe-based legs and sub-micron thick solar absorbers on a polymide substrate. A dispenser printer with a bismuth-tellurium-base powdered ink and an additive based in antimony-telluride compound dispersed in glycerol were used to provide the thermoelectric legs. This W-STEG containing 10 pairs of positive-negative legs has an open-circuit voltage of 55.15 mV and an output power of 44 microwatts when exposed to sunlight. "Our new wearable STEG is expected to be useful in various applications, such as in self-powered wearable electronic devices. " says Professor Choi. "It will also serve as a catalyst to further improve the future wearable electronic technology market. "Want to know more about this awesome innovation? Follow this Link!

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